BA 2018 dates announced, early bird tickets up for sale and the first batch of bands revealed! published 1 week, 4 days ago

After the last year, that was for the first time in history sold out in pre-sale, we now bring you early bird tickets for Brutal Assault 2018! The festival will be held between 8th and 11th August 2018 again in the fortress Josefov.

The first wave of PRINT @ HOME tickets is on sale until the end of April 2018. Please order at our new eshop shop.brutalassault.cz.

We are happy to welcome Swedish classics AT THE GATES – who spawned melodic death metal, influenced metalcore and went ahead of their time with the all-time classic record Slaughter of the Soul. Confirmed is also demonic Hellenic death metal of DEAD CONGREGATION, who themselves have also re-defined blasphemous death metal stemming from the depths of netherworld with their instant-classic debut record Graves of the Archangels. Ever since they’ve stayed loyal to the subgenre they helped to revive and belong among the most essential bands death metal has to offer these days.

SADISTIC INTENT set their path to be classical styled underground death metal around 30 years ago, when it was not yet coined what will be in the future regarded as so and they never strayed from this path. They kept low profile and swore their oath to the underground and we now have the great pleasure to welcome them at BA for the first time ever! After years we will welcome back legendary Dutch act PESTILENCE. Tech death metal pioneers who left significant mark on extreme metal scene promised to play mostly all-time classics.

MISERY INDEX on the other hand never shied away from mixing death metal up with grindcore and helluva dose of adrenalin and they will present their juiced-to-the-tits style at BA again! Returning to our festival are also THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, who are drawing on melodic and metalcore elements and combining them in a powerful and energic death metal blend. And for the first time ever you will have the chance to experience uncompromising dirt-laden violence hardcore grind of their fellow Americans NAILS. Equally uncompromising will be also British act KUROKUMA, who are ready to blow brains wide open with a vicious sludge sound.

The genre of doom metal will also be represented by guardians of the old ways NOVEMBERS DOOM from the US and on the other hand purveyors of progress and experiments OBSCURE SPHINX from Poland. Progressive and reflective attitude to composing will also be showcased by Emperor frontman IHSAHN with his solo project.

As for black metal, even here we managed to get representatives of the ultra-orthodox school in CARPATHIAN FOREST and on the other hand we’ll host agents of melodic Portland scene with members of Agalloch, Uada and Maestus with their new project PILLORIAN. Beyond that we’re also gonna have WHOREDOM RIFE out of Nidaros, Norway, who are firmly rooted in classical second wave black metal of the early 90’s. However, beyond that they also manage to bring in their distinctive style of eerie melodies and massive amounts of charisma, especially in their frontman K.R. Geared to battle with this combination of elements in conjunction with their strictly underground integrity they might be able to become the banner bearers for the genre known as true Norwegian black metal.

The out of ordinary icing on the metal cake will have form of retro-futuristic electronica produced by French half-man, half-synthesizer PERTURBATOR, who took both metal and electronic scene by storm with his peculiar dark synths paying homage to the 80’s and aesthetics stemming not only from movies of the period but also from metal-specific approaches.

WARDRUNA is a Norwegian music group founded by Einar Kvitrafn Selvik that first enchanted their listeners with their mesmerizing debut album gap var Ginnunga in 2009, which also marked the first part of the planned Runaljod trilogy. In the ensuing years the group have spent a lot of time on adapting their music to a live format and establishing a live band. This resulting in a handful of very special concerts, perhaps most notably when they performed in front of the majestic 1100-year-old Gokstad ship at the Viking Ship Museum in Norway.

With the use of the oldest of Nordic instruments and poetic metres as well as lyrics written in Norwegian, Old Norse and Proto-Norse tongue, Wardruna manages to make ​​a strikingly beautiful and intense continuation of old northern musical traditions. Indeed WARDRUNA primarily use old and historical instruments such as primitive deer-hide frame drums, Kraviklyra, tagelharpe, mouth harp, goat horn, lur and more. Non-traditional instruments and other sources of sound like trees, rocks, water and torches are also used. All of these elements are carefully woven into a rich musical landscape and complemented with whispering voices, melodic song and mighty choirs. Although WARDRUNA's music share characteristics with music typically labeled as folk, world and/or ambient, none of these genres can really describe their unique style. It truly must be experienced and you will have the unique opportunity at Brutal Assault 2018!

With great pleasure we can announce that TORMENTOR will return from the dead after 20 years of silence to play BA 2018! Formed in Budapest in 1985, TORMENTOR is the one the best kept secrets in black metal. Possibly not that many fans of the 2nd wave of black metal bands (especially from Norway) can appreciate the immense influnce that TORMENTOR had on their output. The iconic debut album, Anno Domini together with the Seventh Day of Doom demo are some of the most influential releases in black metal with profound impact on acts like Mayhem, Dissection, Nifelheim, Immortal, Darkthrone or Emperor.

Even though Anno Domini was recorded in 1988, due to problems caused by the communist regime, it took many years to formally release it. The influence had to be spread via undergroud tape trading which kept TORMENTOR under the radar for some, however nowadays the musical legacy of TORMENTOR can firmly be placed amongst other pioneering acts such as Bathory, Sarcofago or Celtic Frost.

After TORMENTOR's early demise in 1991 the band's charismatic singer Attila was invited to join Mayhem to record his innovative vocal lines for the timeless classic De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas and kept busy with the band whilst also pursuing numerous other artistic projects, while the guitarist Tamás Buday is active with Swedish masters of black thrash Nifelheim. That means you don't have to be worried about rusty skills as the bands will be appearing in the classic line-up.

Another renowned musical prophets, this time bending, expanding and fusing hardcore and metalcore will return to BA... ladies and gentlemen, prepare for CONVERGE! These Boston-based heavy-music innovators will release a new album this November after 5 years of silence. The album tittled The Dusk In Us shows the band’s artistic evolution and avant-garde sensibilities while still capturing their classic sound. After forming in Massachusetts in 1990, CONVERGE made their debut with 1994’s Halo in a Haystack. Quickly regarded as pioneers within the aggressive music arena, the band had a major breakthrough with their landmark album Jane Doe—a 2001 release praised as iconic by the countless followers of the CONVERGE cult.

The last band on our list for today are disseminators of sickness from Manchaster INGESTED, who are currently signed to the leading label in their genre of technical brutal death metal - Unique Leader records.

Some good names on here: namely, Dead Congregation, Perturbator, Nails, and Coverge. I also haven't seen Novembers Doom, Carpathian Forest and At The Gates yet. But overall, I'm not creaming over the lineup just yet.

... but who am I kidding, I'll still go, BA always delivers.

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Wilytank wrote:

"Of Terror and the Supernatural by Temple of Void is miles ahead of It's midnight in Neverland and I can't get my dick out of this unicorn; Volume 8 by Nightwish in both the amount of heaviness and lack of keyboards."

t’s been only two years since the last MINISTRY BA show but the impression Al Jourgensen and his cohort left the last time was so intense we simply couldn’t resist to draw this powerhouse of psychotic sound back when they’re available with a new record!

Long before the early 2010s, before the legions of Sabbath-worshipping bands emerged from their caverns with lava-lamp font logos and denim vests, there was SAINT VITUS. Along with bands like Pentagram or Trouble, SAINT VITUS pioneered doom metal in its manifestation as a distinct metal sub-genre and in 2018 they will finally make their BA debut!

BLOOD INCANTATION will unleash upon you cerebral whirlwind of atmospheric death metal. The energy and magnetism of live BLOOD INCANTATION will tangibly melt through the PA system, taking you to an unknown dimension. Also in the dimensions of death metal, ORIGIN explode forth with the intensity of a second Big Bang phenomenon, launching cranium-collapsing projectiles of extremely fierce technical death metal, merging technicality with utter brutality. Speaking of brutality, Chicago’s BROKEN HOPE should be the first band mentioned under the entry brutality in virtual lexicon of death-metal history.Last but not least get prepared for primordial vibrations and sonic manifestation of the forces of the universe channeled via hypnotic occult rock of the Frenchmen ALUK TODOLO.

Fuck yeah for Blood Incantation. That's a massive zinger.

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Wilytank wrote:

"Of Terror and the Supernatural by Temple of Void is miles ahead of It's midnight in Neverland and I can't get my dick out of this unicorn; Volume 8 by Nightwish in both the amount of heaviness and lack of keyboards."

The first two are usual suspects, and big draws, but personally, I'm really happy to see Hate and Hirax there, since I've never seen either of them live. Diablo Swing Orchestra could also be a lot of fun live.

_________________

Wilytank wrote:

"Of Terror and the Supernatural by Temple of Void is miles ahead of It's midnight in Neverland and I can't get my dick out of this unicorn; Volume 8 by Nightwish in both the amount of heaviness and lack of keyboards."

New bunch of bands added lately: Behemoth, Dying Fetus, Hate, Hirax, Diablo Swing Orchestra, Northlane, Carnifex, Counterparts, and Nasty.The first two are usual suspects, and big draws, but personally, I'm really happy to see Hate and Hirax there, since I've never seen either of them live. Diablo Swing Orchestra could also be a lot of fun live.

“CROSSWORDS” BANDS UPDATE with DYING FETUS and HIRAX published 2 days ago

Thanks to everyone who took a part in the crossword game! And now we would love to announce new bands officially! DYING FETUS from Maryland have been synonymous for brutal death metal for more than 25 years and we are more than excited to welcome them back in the fortress once again, as well as their blackened death metal colleagues HATE from Poland. Old school metal maniacs would definitely appreciate that HIRAX with mighty Katon W de Pena are coming to BA to give us a lesson about true thrash metal riffing!

The list of avant-garde bands is being extended by DIABLO SWING ORCHESTRA, Swedish act that originally combines progressive metal with jazz fusion or even swing. Also some fresh hardcore blood is coming to BA, including Australian metalcore NORHTLANE, deathcore butchery CARNIFEX as well as bestial screaming hardcore COUNTERPARTS or beatdown hardcore Belgians NASTY.

Lol Perturbator. I mean, that he's tight and all, but at Brutal assault? Weird..

They always invite a couple of slightly out-of-the-box non-metal or borderline-metal artists. In the last few years, there were Phurpa, Lightning Bolt, God Is An Astronaut, Igorrr, King Dude... it works surprisingly well when you can take a break from the extreme metal. As for Perturbator, I'd gladly take a brake to bust a move to some synthwave. Missed him two years ago, because Leprous were on at the same time.

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Wilytank wrote:

"Of Terror and the Supernatural by Temple of Void is miles ahead of It's midnight in Neverland and I can't get my dick out of this unicorn; Volume 8 by Nightwish in both the amount of heaviness and lack of keyboards."

"Of Terror and the Supernatural by Temple of Void is miles ahead of It's midnight in Neverland and I can't get my dick out of this unicorn; Volume 8 by Nightwish in both the amount of heaviness and lack of keyboards."

NEW BANDS WITH PARADISE LOST, NOCTURNUS AD, UNLEASHED AND FULL OF HELL! published 1 week, 6 days ago

PARADISE LOST have not only defined the gothic subgenre and raised doom metal to a new level, they can also be considered pioneers of an entire musical generation. Upon their formation on the ashes of other musical pioneers Nihilist, UNLEASHED were formed and quickly adopted the position of Chief Vikings of Swedish Death Metal scene, which they up to this day refuse to vacate. And speaking of pioneers, we’re also extremely happy to welcome unique thrash powerhouse from the US to the bill, EXHORDER! Another groundbreaking act that will honor BA with one of its unique cosmic death metal performances is NOCTURNUS AD of Mike Browning!

NEOCAESAR will be invoking the best form of Dutch death metal once represented by Sinister and even though the band is recent spawn project, it is comprised of veteran former Sinister members. The current incarnation of Finnish post-punk phenomenon Beastmilk will pleasure the fans under the moniker GRAVE PLEASURES, while the fans of progressive guitar work can look forward for the virtuoso PLINI! We will also welcome uncompromising UNSANE, brutal soundtrack of New York city cacophony and the toughest noise riffs which are able to attack with fury of angry beast.

Contemporary avantgarde with grim undertones will be summoned by DODECAHEDRON, while French CELESTE will cast gloom with their dark post-hardcore sludge. Aggressive and one of the best live acts FULL OF HELL will replace NAILS in the line-up, so get ready for walls of noise and massive explosions of furious rhythms and riffs. This is brutality and darkness in its purest form.

I'm SUPER PSYCHED about Armored Saint, actually. Never saw them, never thought I would, and after Metal Church being a blast last year, I hoped they would bring in some old school 80s metal to mix up. They did not disappoint. Some great names on here, I'm sold and I'm gonna buy my ticket soon.

_________________

Wilytank wrote:

"Of Terror and the Supernatural by Temple of Void is miles ahead of It's midnight in Neverland and I can't get my dick out of this unicorn; Volume 8 by Nightwish in both the amount of heaviness and lack of keyboards."

GOJIRA, TESTAMENT, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, GRAVEYARD and many more published 1 week, 2 days ago

We are thrilled to announce probably the biggest bands update accross different genres. To spice things up we are welcoming back technical death metal powerhouse GOJIRA, one of extreme prog’s modern leading lights.

Also thrash metal Titans TESTAMENT are returning to BA, the band, that reigned the genre throne with the latest album Brotherhood of the Snake. Speaking of veterans, we are also happy to welcome classic heavy metal juggernaut ARMORED SAINT this time with former Anthrax member John Bush as well as mighty Peter Tägtgren with his melodic industrial-metal alter ego PAIN.

Get your bandanas ready, since SUICIDAL TENDENCIES are coming to Josefov, skateboard anthems factory with monstrous bass lines and the one and only drummer, that makes hardcore thrash legends even more killer.

Who's responsible for crossover thrash tsunami few years ago? Blame MUNICIPAL WASTE for sure aka let’s remind those times when Cryptic Slaughter, D.R.I. or Attitude Adjustment ruled stages. A soupergroup ACT OF DEFIANCE consisting of former Megadeth members will give us a lesson about true heavy/thrash metal riffing.

Fans of golden rock era could appreciate Swedish act GRAVEYARD, the one and only band, which was able to resurrect faithfully the best rock vibes of 1960s and 1970s.

Mexican drug lords BRUJERIA are coming once again to show us grindcore / death metal Macarena. Polish school of blackened death metal will be represented by AZARATH.

British DRAGGED INTO SUNLIGHT relentlessly push boundaries of black metal, post-metal and sludge to new extremes with a huge wall of amps and extreme decibels of anger and despair. Belgian beast WIEGEDOOD with members of AmenRa, Oathbreaker or Rise and Fall will show us a merciless black metal storm.

Hardcore lineup getting stronger with uncompromising INTEGRITY, a classical Clevo band from the dark side of hardcore that began to put metallic sound into the genre. Another hardcore punk veterans TERROR are also coming to the fortress. Meanwhile, Canadian ANGELMAKER is the new predatory pike in the deathcore pond.

"Of Terror and the Supernatural by Temple of Void is miles ahead of It's midnight in Neverland and I can't get my dick out of this unicorn; Volume 8 by Nightwish in both the amount of heaviness and lack of keyboards."

This lineup is already super stacked and they've only announced like half of it and just one of these bands is a headliner? Honestly, I'd love to go to this. It seems super affordable other than flights from America; anybody from Europe who goes to this have ideas on how to save money there (i.e., fly in somewhere other than Prague and take a train or something)? Because as it stands I'd be spending like $2000 just to get there and that's a big old no go

_________________I'm like 50% blastbeats and shit and 50% flowery queer boi, what's good

This lineup is already super stacked and they've only announced like half of it and just one of these bands is a headliner? Honestly, I'd love to go to this. It seems super affordable other than flights from America; anybody from Europe who goes to this have ideas on how to save money there (i.e., fly in somewhere other than Prague and take a train or something)? Because as it stands I'd be spending like $2000 just to get there and that's a big old no go

Regarding travels: Flying into other Czech towns or somewhere nearby in Poland is probably not possible. Anyway, the train network is pretty decent around here. Prague is by far the most convenient place to fly to, but maybe check Vienna (the trains and buses go relatively frequently to the Czech rep., it takes roughly 4 hours to get to Jaroměř). Also Dresden is kinda close, but I can't quite give you advice on that and I have no idea whether flying there is even a thing.

As for any other info, feel free to PM me, I've been at the festival a few times and I lived in the Czech rep. for 5 years, so I think I can help you with most of the stuff you might come across.

_________________

Wilytank wrote:

"Of Terror and the Supernatural by Temple of Void is miles ahead of It's midnight in Neverland and I can't get my dick out of this unicorn; Volume 8 by Nightwish in both the amount of heaviness and lack of keyboards."

This time Brutal Assault goes deeper into the underground with another load of bands for the 2018 edition. Death metal fans can rejoice as we confirm CANNIBAL CORPSE bringing their king size portion of guts, blood and death classics to BA once again. Also, we will welcome British progressive death / black act AKERCOCKE a.k.a. reunited band releasing an excellent comeback album of jaw dropping magnitude.

Regarding classic stuff, HELMET with their trademarked groovy guitar riffs and unrestrained drums filled with easily recognizable voice of Page Hamilton will unleash their post hardcore whirlwind within the fortress for the first time.

Talking about darker stuff, Amalie Bruun’s MYRKUR will perform with her atmospheric raw, dissonant blackened riffing combined with vocal efforts leaning closer to the earthy, doomish folk similar to Chelsea Wolfe. Canadian PALLBEARER, probably the biggest Rush fans in the world, will carry their unique doom metal coffin to BA. And speaking of dark melancholic music, renowned Neurosis-like post hardcore cult LVMEN will perform their latest album Mitgefangen Mitgehangen.

Hardcore fans could appreciate H2O, unrestrained hardcore/punk act that blended Cro-Mags and Agnostic Front with punk drive of Token Entry. Speaking of comebacks, after six years we will welcome metal core whirlwind from Highlands called BLEED FROM WITHIN. True thrashers will get E-FORCE, Canadian/Frech act with former Voivod members.

Last but not least addition to the lineup? If you are into cold electro beats, then you would dig HORSKH, French duo beating up audience with brutal electro-industrial.